While there are 37,000 men and women in the New York Police Department as a whole, a simple 30 men make up the Scuba Unit. Membership is acquired only after each individual passes a series of tests. Unlike other scuba squads around the country, the New York squad gives a written, physical, and fitness test every two years. The fitness test: a minimum of 12 chin-ups, 34 push-ups, and running one mile must be finished under 6 minutes and 48 seconds. In the pool those trying out must swim 500 yards in less than 12 minutes, and then do a series of tests underwater with a weight belt. Four men out of 56 passed the last series of tests. Because of the physical and mental challenges of this job, rookies are invited for a six month trial period before becoming full time members.

Out of 1,000 dives last year, 32 were successful life saving dives. This is the obvious upside to the job. Sometimes they will receive calls about individuals attempting suicide and they are able to be on the scene in time to rescue the person after the jump. Sadly these dives are outnumbered by the tragic and gory dives that the scuba squad must endure on a daily basis. The scuba squad is forced to mix this tragedy with humor on their off-hours simply to cope with the disgusting and horrific things they see under water. Headless bodies, drowned children, dead dogs, toxic waste, zero-visibility water, parasite poisoning, inadvertently swallowed sewage, suicide victims, and specifically the remains of the TWA Flight 800 are examples of what these men experience in their unique workplace.